Fine spherical particles with satisfactory molecular orientation, spherical microcapsules comprising the same and processes for producing these

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fine spherical particle having uniform molecular orientation having uniform molecular orientation, which is useful in fine chemical fields or electronic and information fields, such as a functional material and a medical material, using membrane formation of a bicephalic compound; a spherical microcapsule encapsulating a hydrophilic core substance; and a process for producing the same. The fine spherical particle can be produced by immersing a substrate having hydrophilicity in an aqueous solution of a salt of the compound represented by the following formula (1) to precipitate the fine particle under an acidic atmosphere. wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; n is an integer of 8 to 20; and m is an integer of 1 to 3. The spherical microcapsule encapsulating a fine particle of a hydrophilic core substance is produced by immersing a substrate having hydrophilicity in an aqueous solution in which a metal salt of the compound represented by formula (1) and the hydrophilic core substance are dissolved; and allowing the aqueous solution to stand under an acidic atmosphere to precipitate the fine particle. The resulting fine spherical particle and the spherical microcapsule has a particle diameter of 0.01 to 100 μm.

1 . A fine spherical particle having uniform molecular orientation, which comprises a compound represented by the following formula (1):  
     
       
         
         
             
             
         
       
       wherein R represents a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; n is an integer of 8 to 20; and m is an integer of 1 to 3.  
     
   
   
       2 . The fine spherical particle according to  claim 1 , wherein the fine particle is evenly oriented in a radial pattern from the center.  
   
   
       3 . The fine spherical particle according to  claim 1 , wherein the particle diameter of the fine particle is from 0.01 to 100 μm.  
   
   
       4 . A process for producing the fine spherical particle according to  claim 1 , which comprises immersing a substrate having hydrophilicity in an aqueous solution of a salt of the compound represented by formula (1) to precipitate the fine particle under an acidic atmosphere.  
   
   
       5 . The process for producing the fine spherical particle according to  claim 4 , wherein the salt of the compound represented by formula (1) is an alkali metal salt.  
   
   
       6 . The process for producing the fine spherical particle according to  claim 4 , wherein the substrate comprises glass, metal, silica, mica, ceramic, earthenware, porcelain, plastic, or a composite material thereof.  
   
   
       7 . The process for producing the fine spherical particle according to  claim 4 , wherein the fine particle is precipitated under an acidic atmosphere of pH 5 to 6.  
   
   
       8 . A spherical microcapsule in which a fine particle of a hydrophilic core substance are encapsulated inside the spherical body of the compound represented by formula (1) having uniform molecular orientation.  
   
   
       9 . The spherical microcapsule according to  claim 8 , wherein the spherical microcapsule has a particle diameter of from 0.01 to 100 μm.  
   
   
       10 . A process for producing the spherical microcapsule encapsulating a fine particle of a hydrophilic core substance according to  claim 8 , which comprises immersing a hydrophilicity-treated substrate in an aqueous solution in which a metal salt of the compound represented by formula (1) and the hydrophilic core substance are dissolved; and allowing the aqueous solution to stand under an acidic atmosphere for precipitation.  
   
   
       11 . The process for producing the spherical microcapsule according to  claim 10 , wherein the metal salt of the compound represented by formula (1) is an alkali metal salt.  
   
   
       12 . The process for producing the spherical microcapsule according to  claim 10 , wherein the acidic atmosphere is a weakly acidic atmosphere of pH 5 to 6.  
   
   
       13 . The process for producing the spherical microcapsule according to  claim 10 , wherein the substrate is selected from glass, metal, silica, mica, a ceramic, earthenware, porcelain, plastic, and a composite material thereof.